A Room Made of Windows

Haunting, mesmerizing, intense, all those things. Heavy in symbolism and lovely language. I, personally, enjoyed it the way I would have when I was 9 or 10, but also I did get more out of it for being an experienced reader. For example, the colors on the cover as illustrated by Hyman are important.

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Of course, Hyman being Hyman, all pix are enchanting.

Interesting setting, Berkeley and SF in the days when it was still affordable to live there even if poor and to casually hike to the hills etc. Interesting characters, writers & pianists & historians & gardeners... about whom we're told very little, but can deduce much.

I like the details, such as Julia's journal being titled, not 'my notebook' or something bland, or left untitled, or even called 'the book of strange things' but actually Book of Strangenesses." I like this quote: "[A] poem is... a feeling about some special time or place or happening, pressed into as few lines as it will go."

Apparently this was first in a series... I've no idea what sequels could do, as this is perfect unto itself. I mean, the ending leaves things open, but only in the sense that life always goes on. I'm satisfied now.

I still have trouble matching my fond memories of the Mushroom Planet books with this, though - hard to believe it's the same author... I'll reread those if I can find them, for sure.


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